Greens push for Federal role in transport planning

Federal Greens MPs have joined with their Victorian counterparts to announce new transport policies that would bring sustainability, coherence and long-term planning to State Government’s transport priorities.

Greens Senators Christine Milne and Scott Ludlam, Federal MP Adam Bandt, and Victorian MLC Greg Barber joined with Greens Richmond candidate Kathleen Maltzahn at the intersection of Hoddle Street and the Eastern Freeway, today.

The Greens’ Federated Transport Plan uses the power of Federal Government funding to enforce better transport planning and implementation at a State level and includes:

• Making long-range city and State-wide strategic transport sustainability plans a condition of transport funding, and requiring Infrastructure Australia to set benchmarks and audit the plans;
  
  
• In conjunction with the States and Territories, the establishment of a national transport research centre.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said "Getting people moving around cities like Melbourne faster, more conveniently, more sustainably and more cheaply is a challenge which needs to see the Federal and State governments working together.

"Only with proper coordinated planning can we get a truly sustainable solution that will work for people and the planet."

Australian Greens Senator, Scott Ludlam, said “These are important policy changes that have been backed by a Senate inquiry.

“The States and Territories have given political support to long term planning as part of a COAG process but we want to see the Federal Government get the ball rolling.”

Greens Member for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, said “With more Greens elected in Victoria we will be able to do more to get good, cooperative policies like these operating across the State and Federal levels of government.”

Greens Richmond candidate, Kathleen Maltzahn, said “Infrastructure Australia is already signalling that its strong preference is to fund public transport. With these measures, the signals will only get stronger. Despite this, the Labor State Government continues to submit bids for massive road tunnels.”

"With the Greens’ Public Transport Authority, Victoria will have a strong advocate to seek Federal funding for Victoria’s long-term public transport needs.”


Further information: Samantha Dunn 0429 29 29 04 or samantha.dunn@vic.greens.org.au